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HomeSmile Brighter This Summer with Our Oral Health Tips

Smile Brighter This Summer with Our Oral Health Tips

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1. Stay Hydrated For a Healthy Mouth
2. Give Ice Chewing the Cold Shoulder
3. Skip the Sugary Snacks
4. Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene Routine
5. Stick a Straw In It
6. Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush

It’s the first day of summer - and as we all look forward to some fun in the sun, it’s important not to let our oral health slip as the temperatures rise. To ensure you stay smiling all summer long, check out our six oral health tips that will keep your teeth healthy and protected this season.


1. Stay Hydrated For a Healthy Mouth

As the mercury rises, keeping yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water is important for a number of reasons. Aside from helping keep your body cool and preventing dehydration on hot days, drinking water is also good for your oral health.

Keeping the mouth moist and hydrated helps to wash away plaque and debris that can lead to dental health issues including tooth decay and cavities. Drinking water can also assist with keeping your mouth and breath fresh.

Aim to drink at least two litres of water a day to keep your mouth optimally hydrated.


2. Give Ice Chewing the Cold Shoulder

When attempting to stay cool on a hot summer’s day, you might reach for an ice cube to chew on for some chilled relief. However, chewing or biting down on an ice cube can result in significant damage to your teeth.

Biting into crunchy ice places stress on the teeth, leading to the development of tiny cracks that can damage the protective enamel and cause it to break down over time. This damage is even more significant with larger ice cubes.

What’s more, eating ice can exacerbate the pain of sensitive teeth in people who suffer from sensitivity, so it’s definitely best to ignore the ice and opt for a cool drink instead.


3. Skip the Sugary Snacks

From holidays to barbecues and Christmas parties, summer can bring with it a lot of temptation in the sugar-laden snack department. While indulging your sweet tooth in moderation is fine, aim to keep sugary snacks to a minimum to keep your teeth healthy.

The sugar in sweets such as lollies and ice cream can remain on the surface of the teeth and cause the development of bacteria, which in turn can lead to decay.

By taking care not to overindulge in sugary treats over summer, you’ll keep your teeth protected and strong.


4. Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene Routine

Whether as a result of school holidays, vacations, or trips to see family and friends over Christmas, the summer period may cause disruption to your normal day-to-day routine. However, it’s important to maintain your usual oral hygiene routine to avoid your dental health slipping over the summer.

Remember to brush your teeth for two minutes twice per day and floss once a day using dental floss. By practising good oral hygiene throughout the summer, you’ll ensure your teeth and gums remain in the best condition.


5. Stick a Straw In It

The warmer summer temperatures might have you reaching for cold fizzy drinks or fruit juices which may be high in sugar and acid. These ingredients can damage the protective layer of enamel on the tooth’s surface, increasing the risk of tooth decay and cavities.

While it’s best to minimise your intake of these types of beverages, if you are indulging from time to time, it’s a good idea to use a straw to reduce the impact on your teeth. Choose a paper straw to ensure you’re protecting the environment as well as your teeth!


6. Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush

Whether you’re heading off on a family holiday, road trip, or vacation with friends, make sure you remember to pack your toothbrush so you can maintain your normal oral hygiene routine wherever you are.

If you usually use an electric toothbrush, you may want to buy a manual brush for convenience while travelling, which will be lighter and more compact, and avoids the need to pack bulky charging ports.


Whatever you’re getting up to this summer, make sure you stay on top of your oral health to keep your teeth healthy and strong all summer long. If you’re due for a dental health check-up, at your local National Dental Care Group / DB Dental practice today.